Qatar vs South Korea
A data-driven side-by-side: investment score, economy, business climate, political stability, and tax, to help you decide where to invest, incorporate, or relocate.
Overall: South Korea ranks higher
South Korea scores 80/100 on our composite investment index, ahead of Qatar at 76/100. This blends economic strength, political stability, business climate, financial maturity, and growth outlook. Read the breakdown below to see where each country actually leads.
Category breakdown
78
Economic strength
South Korea leads
82
65
Political stability
South Korea leads
78
78
Business climate
South Korea leads
82
82
Financial maturity
Qatar leads
80
62
Growth outlook
South Korea leads
70
Macro snapshot
220
GDP (USD bn)
-1490.4 bn
1,710
2.5%
GDP growth (%)
+0.3 pp
2.2%
$83,890
GDP per capita (USD)
+50890.0
$33,000
2.8%
Inflation (%)
+0.3 pp
2.5%
1.2%
FDI (% of GDP)
0.0 pp
1.2%
43%
Public debt (% of GDP)
-11.5 pp
54%
2.7
Population (M)
-49.3M
52
Qatar: strong sectors
- LNG & Gas38.0% of GDP82
- Financial Services8.0% of GDP75
- Sports & Tourism4.0% of GDP72
- Real Estate5.0% of GDP68
South Korea: strong sectors
- Semiconductors8.0% of GDP95
- Technology12.0% of GDP90
- Automotive5.0% of GDP82
- Manufacturing25.0% of GDP82
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Qatar or South Korea?
Our composite investment index gives Qatar a score of 76/100 and South Korea a score of 80/100. South Korea ranks higher overall, but the right answer depends on your sector and risk tolerance. See the category breakdown above.
Is Qatar a safer market than South Korea?
Risk classification puts Qatar as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate) and South Korea as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Qatar or South Korea?
Qatar is currently growing at 2.5% per year, vs 2.2% for South Korea. Qatar has the faster headline growth rate today.